Pumping apparatus for wells



(No Model.)

J. S. THOMPSON. PUMPING APPARATUS POR WELLS. No. 586,524. Patented July 13, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES S. THOMPSON, OF TAYLORSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUMPING APPARATUS F-OR WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,524, dated J nly 13, 1897.

Application filed January l8, 1895. Serial No. 535,333. (No model.)

T 0 @ZZ whom, it may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. THOMPSON, a resident of Taylorstown, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pumping Apparatus for lVells; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to apparatus for pumping oil, water, and like wells, its chief object being to provide a pumping device in which a flexible wire rope or cable may be used, and also one which provides for the washing of the walls of the well to prevent the collection of paraffin thereon, such as in oil-wells.

My invention comprises, generally stated, a working barrel, a second working barrel of smaller diameter, and pistons operating in said working-barrels and of correspondinglydifferent diameters and a vent to preclude the equalization of pressures.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. eis a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 5 is a view of the lower end of the pumping apparatus where the sprayer' is omitted.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each view.

In Fig. l of the drawings the letter a designates an oil-well, a designating the oil-sand from which the oil flows into the well. The pumping apparatus is located within this oilsand. Below this oil-sand a' is the perforated tubing b, which extends down to any suitable distance and which has connected thereto another section of tubing, which acts as an anchor for the pumping apparatus suspended above.

Secured within the upper end of the perforated tubing b is the casting c, said casting having the opening c' therein, to which the feed-pipe c2 may be connected. This feed pipe c2 extends up to the top of the oil-sand, or any suitable distance, in order that when the pumping apparatus is in operation said feed-pipe will indicate by admitting gas into the pump when the oil has been sufficiently lowered in the well. The oil may also be admitted through the opening c5 in the casting c, and where desired the feed-pipe c2 may be dispensed with.

Within the seat c3 of the casting c is the brass anchor d, the lower end of said anchor being slightly tapered, so as to fit within the corresponding seat c4. Between the anchor (l and the inner walls of the casting c is interposed the packing d', which may be formed of rope or other suitable material. This packing is held in position by a collar d2, which has the groove d3, which fits down over the upper end of said packing. Connected to the upper end of the anchor CZ is the sleeve e, while resting upon the end of the anchor d is the valve-seat e', said valve-seat being held in position by means of the lugs e2 on the exterior of the valve-seat d. The interior of the sleeve e is also provided with lugs e3, which regulate the distance to which the ball e4 may rise Within said sleeve.

Secured to the upper end of the sleeve eis.

the tube f, said tube extending lup and secured at its upper end to the. piston g by means of the sleeve g.

The piston g has the cups g2, which form the packing for same. A valve-seat g4, held in position by the cap h, engages with the upper end of said piston g. This cap h has the openings h to permit of the escape of the liuid. The ball t' rests upon the valve-seat g4, but said ball may be omitted, as the ball e4 will be sufficient for all ordinary purposes in the working' of the pump.

The piston gis adapted to operate within the working barrel k, whether said piston moves within said working barrel or the working barrel moves over the piston. At the lower end of the working barrel 7c is the sleeve c, said sleeve being adapted upon the lifting of the working barrel k to engage with the lower end of the sleeve'g. By a further lifting of the working barrel k the anchor d may be unseated and the whole pumping apparatus be withdrawn from the well. In the same manner the sleeve g affords a means of lowering the anchor and its connections into the well. Connected to the upper end of the working barrel Zt' is the piston Z, said piston being connected to said working barrel by means of the sleeve Z. This piston Z is also provided with cups Z2, which act to pack said piston. The upper end of the piston Zis provided with the valve-seat m, held in position by means of the cap or crown n, secured to said piston, while a ball 0 rests on said valve-seat m. The cap or crown n is provided with the extension n and thethreaded connectionv, to which the cable or sucker-rods, as the case may be, are attached;

The piston Z operates within the working barrel s, which is polished on its inner walls to facilitate the operation of the piston Z working therein. This working barrel s is of suitable length and is connected at its lower end by the sleeve Z to the tubing fr. This tubing r is connected at its lower end to the casting c. The working barrel s is connected at its upper end to another section of tubing, like the tubing r, which extends to the top of the well and through which the oil is pumped.

The lower section of tubing r and the working barrel s are connected by the washer or sprayer Z, said sprayer being located at a height to be determined by the point at which the oil enters the well, or, as it is commonly termed, the pay-streak. This sprayer con` sists of a sleeve having orifices Z', located at suitable intervals, which act, when the fluid is ejected therefrom in the manner hereinafter set forth, to agitate the surrounding fluid in the well and so prevent the formation of paraffin upon the walls of the well, while at the same time it washes away that which has already formed. The sleevef is also provided with the valve t2, which will permit the entrance of fluid into the sleeve and also into the working barrel s and tubing fr upon the upward stroke of the piston Z, so that upon the descent of said piston the fluid thus admitted will be ejected with force from said orifices.

The lower end of the inner working barrel Y Zt is provided with the orifices k2, which permit a portion of the fluid admitted through the orifices of the sleeve Z to pass up into the space between the working barrel Z; and the tube f. Fluid may also be admitted to this above-mentioned space through the sleeve 7c', which does not t closely around the tube f.

I do not limit myself in any sense to the arrangement and construction of the parts illustrated in the drawings, as these may be changed and modified without affecting the scope of my invention.

The Operation of my improved pumping apparatus when constructed as illustrated is as follows: Vhile my improved pump is especially adapted for use with a wire line, yet it is apparent that it may be also employed with the ordinary sucker-rods. YVhere a wire line is employed, it may be connected to the upper end of the pump in any suitable manner. The wire line is connected in the ordinary manner by suitable clampsto the customary walking-beam. Upon the reciprocation of the walking-beam the piston Z and working barrel 7c will be raisedA and lowered. Upon the upstroke of the piston Z and the working barrel Zr, attached thereto the fluid will be drawn in through the feed-pipe c2 or the opening ci", as the case may be, whence it passes up through the tube j' into the space above the smaller piston g and inclosed by the smaller working barrel Zr. At the same time by the upstroke of the piston Z fluid is drawn in through the orifices t' and valve t2 in the sleeve t into the space surrounding the tube f. Upon the downstroke'of the pistou Z and workin g barrel Zt' the ball-valve o in said piston will be unseated, while the valves t and e4 will be seated. The fluid which was admitted by the upstroke of the piston Z into the space above the piston g and within the working barrel 7c will pass up through the openings in the crown n, and thence to the top of the well. By this same downstroke of the piston Z and working barrel Za a portion of the fluid admitted through the valve Z2 and orifices Z of the sleeve t will be ejected from the orifices t with considerable force against the walls of the well for the purpose of washing the walls of the well as well as topi-event equalization of pressures, as more fully hereinafter explained. A portion also of the fluid admitted through the orifices Z and valve t2 will, upon the downstroke of the piston Z, pass up through the orifices 7a2 into the space between the working barrel Z; and the tube f, and upon the upstroke of said piston Zthis fluid will escape through the orifices 7a2. It is apparent that in case the sleeve Zt" is not used the orifices 7a2 would be superfluous, as the lower end of the working barrel would be open to admit the Huid.

In employing a wire line for operating the pumping apparatus I am enabled to hold the line taut during the pumping operation for the following reasons: As the piston Zis raised the wire line of course is maintained taut, and upon the downstroke of said piston there is a very heavy column of fluid in the well above the piston Z and resting thereon, which acts to lower said piston. It is apparent, however, that if the piston g was of the same diameter as the piston Z there would be an equalization of pressures and no work would be done; but the piston g is of smaller diameter than the piston Z and the orifices t in the sleeve t allow for the escape of a portion of the fluid below the piston Z. The fluid is thus prevented from equalizing the pressures above and below the larger piston Z by means of this vented sleevef or other manner of venting the space below the larger piston Z. Accordingly, having provided for this difference in area by suitable vents, the descent of the larger piston Z will be positive and even, as the wireline will be maintained taut.

All the fluid taken up through the tube f and discharged into the space above the smaller piston g by the upstroke of the larger IDO IIO

piston Z is by the downstroke of same transferred to the space shown above piston Zand by its next stroke is carried to the top of the well.

The admission of the fluid by the vents is entirely independent of the admission ot' the fluid which is to be carried to the top of the well. The amount ejected from the vents by the downstroke of the larger piston Z is the equivalent of the difference in areas of the larger and smaller pistons, and that is sufficient to preclude the equalization of pressures.

In case the sprayer or wall-washer is not required the orifices t and valve t2 are omitted, but suitable vents or orifices u may be formed in a connection u', located below the valve-seat e, as shown in Fig. In this case by the upstroke of the piston Zthe fluid passes up into the tube f, while a portion is drawn in through the orifices u to the tubing r. Upon the descent of the piston Z a portion of the fluid is ejected from the orifices u, whereby the equalization of pressures is precluded for the same reasons as above stated. This is simply another manner of venting.

In Fig. Lof the drawings I have illustrated another form of my invention in which the smaller working barrel 1; is inverted and secured to the anchor CZ, whereby it remains stationary. The tube w is connected to the lower end of the piston Z, whereupon the smaller piston y will be at the lower end of the apparatus and will move in the working barrel c instead of having said working barrel move over it. In this case the ball-valve ff is removed. This modification is made the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent filed by me on the 18th day of May, 1895, Serial No. 540,783. In the operation of this modified form as the piston Z is lifted the piston yy also ascends, the fluid lifting the valve e4 and entering the working` barrel c. By this upstroke of the piston Z a certain amount of fiuid is drawn in through the orifices u to fill the space between the working barrel s and the pipe w and the space between the said barrel s and the working barrel r and between said barrel n and the tubing r. At the same time on the upstroke of the piston y the fluid in the space between the pipe w and the working barrel v is ejected through the openings t2 into the surrounding space. As the piston Zon its upstroke opens up a larger space than that closed by the upstroke of the smaller piston y the orifices n admit enough uid to supply this difference in space. By the downstroke of the piston Z, which is caused by the column of fluid resting thereon, the fluid in the working barrel fr, which was drawn in by the upstroke of the pistons, is carried up through the pipe w to a point above the piston Z, and thence to the top of the well. At the same time, as the piston Z in its descent closes a greater space than the piston y opens up, part of the fluid in the space below said piston Z must pass out through the orifices u. The amount of this fluid corresponds to the difference in area of the twopistons Z and y, and thus the equalization of pressures is precluded. In this modified form the orifices in the sleeve t are omitted, the uid being admit-ted and eX- pelled by the orifices u'.

IV hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of a working barrel, a second working barrel of smaller diameter, and pistons operating in said working barrels and of correspondingly-different diameters, said apparatus having a vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

2. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of an outer working barrel, and inner working barrel of smaller diameter, pistons operating in said barrels and of correspondingly-different diameters, said apparatus having a vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

3. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of an outer working barrel, a piston moving therein, a working barrel of smaller diameter carried by said piston, and a stationary piston within said inner workin g barrel, said apparatus having a vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

4. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of a working barrel, a piston moving therein, a working barrel of smaller diameter carried by said piston, and a stationary piston within said smaller working barrel, said stationary piston forming part of a hollow inlet-column, and said apparatus having a vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

5. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of a working barrel, a second Working barrel of smaller diameter, pistons operating in said working barrels and of correspondingly-different diameters, and a tube connected to the smaller piston adapted to carry the fluid above said smaller piston, said apparatus having a vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

6. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of a working barrel, a piston moving therein, a working barrel of smaller diameter carried by said piston, a stationary piston within said smaller working barrel, and a tube supporting said stationary piston at the upper end thereof, said apparatus having a vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

7. In well-pumping apparatus, the combination of a working barrel, a piston moving therein, a working barrel of smaller diameter carried by said piston, said smaller working barrel havin g an inwardly-projecting portion, a piston within said inner working barrel, said inwardly-projecting portion being adapted to IOO engage said piston, and said apparatus having a Vent to preclude equalization of pressures, substantially as set forth.

8. In Well-pumping apparatus, the combination with a suitable shell, or casing, of an outer Working barrel, an inner working barrel of smaller diameter adapted to receive the iiuid, pistons operating in said barrels and of correspondingly-different diameters, the space between said inner Working,` barrel and the inner Walls of said shell having,` a vent, substantially as set forth.

9. In Well-pumping apparatus, the combination with a suitable shell, or casing, of an outer Working barrel, an inner Working barrel of smaller diameter adapted to receive the uid, pistons operating in said barrels and of correspondingly-different diameters, a tube Within said inner Working barrel carrying,` the smaller piston, the space between said inner Working barrel and said tube being vented, substantially as set forth.

10. In Well-pumping' apparatus, the combination with a suitable shell, or casing', a pumping-piston Working therein, a second piston of smaller diameter than said first-mentioned piston, a Workingbarrel Within which said smaller piston operates, said shell, or casing, having orifices therein for the admission and discharge of fluid, substantially as set forth.

11. In pumping apparatus, the combination of a suitable shell, or casing, a pum ping-piston Working therein, a second piston of smaller diameter than said first-mentioned piston,'a Working barrel Within which said smaller piston Works, and a sleeve havin g; orifices therein for the admission and discharge of Huid, substantially as set forth.

l2. In pum ping apparatus, the combination of a suitable shell, or casing, a pumping-piston Working thereima second piston of smaller diameter than said iirst-mentioned piston, a Working' barrel Within which said smaller piston works, and a sleeve having orifices therein for the admission and discharge of fluid and a valve adapted to admit fluid to said casing, substantially as set forth.

13. In pumpingapparatns,the combination of a suitable shell, or casing, a Working barrel, a piston Working therein, a sleeve connecting said shell, or casing, and said Working barrel, said sleeve having oriiices therein for the admission and discharge of fluid, a smaller Working barrel, and a piston Working therein, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES S. THOMPSON, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES S. THOMPSON.

Vitnesses:

RoBT. D. ToTTEN, ROBERT C. ToTTEN.'

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